Spring-shackle



UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS XV. PORTER, OF CHELSEA, AND HENRY K. PORTER, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS. V

SPRING-SHACKL E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,071, dated izeptember 18,1883. Application filed December 9, 1880. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS WV. PORTER, of Chelsea, and HENRY K. Pon'rninof Boston, Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Spring-Shackle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ilnproveinei-its in the shackles usually denominated side-sprin g shackles, and which are employed to connect the respective ends of the springs with the rocker or long head-block and the hind axle of the vehicle; and our invention consists in a shackle so constructed and arranged that it may be adjusted by lateral vibration to accommodate the shackle-link to springs arranged with any desired degree of obliquity relatively to the axial line of the carriage.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of one shackle. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the shackle, taken on line Y Z, Fig.

- 1, and showing the shackle as secured to the "axle and axle-stock.

which is pivoted to plate O, and which furnishes the pivotal support of link D.

Plate 0 is preferably formed with a central pin, 2, which enters bed B, and secures the plate from lateral displacement. It is also formed with a back shoulder, c, and a front part or member, (I, which shoulders against bed B. Upon part cl are formed the ears 0 e, as shown.

The holes a a, formed, respectively, in shoulders c d, receive the rounded ends of the securing-clip b, as shown. This shackleplate G is an improvement upon that shown in Letters Patent No. 75, 973, dated May 24, 1868, granted to said T. XV. Porter, and it is not herein broadly claimed, but only in its improved form. Said tubular cross E is formed with the tube f, which is arranged between and secured to ears 6 e by the, pivot it, upon which the cross is arranged to be vibrated by the ex ertion of some force thereon. One of the tubular transverse bars at of link '1) is inserted and secured in the horizontal tube 1 of cross E,

extent that the axis of its tube 9 shall be at rightangles to the vertical axis of the spring, whether the latter be arranged parallel to or at any desired degree of obliquity to the verti cal axisor fore and aft central vertical line of the carriage, and so that said tube 9 shall be parallel to the eye formed at the end of such spring, wherebylink D, when seated in tube 1 y, will be in proper position to be connected with such spring. By thus forming a shackle with a pivoted link-holder, each shackle may be used for parallel or oblique springs, and in the latter case for either a right 7 or left hand shackle; and, besides, the same shackles are available for all degrees of obliquity of the springs,which obliquity 1]] ay result from varying the relative length and width of the carriage or from other causes, and to supply which'(but for such pivotal link-holder) would require as many different patterns of shackle-plates as there might be variations in degrees of obliquity of the springs.

WVc claim as our invention- 1. The plate 0, formed with the following elements or parts, to wit: a seat to receive axlebed B, passages to receive the ends of the axlesecuring clip b, and the perforated ears 6, to receive and support tubular cross E, thereto pivoted, and arranged to receive the shacklelink, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with plate O, formed as specified,'of tubular cross E, thereto pivoted, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of plate 0, tubular cross E, and link D, all constructed and combined to operate substantially as specified.

THOMAS W. PORTER. HENRY K. PORTER. \Vitnesses: v

EBEN HUTcnrNsoN, .H. H. LETTENEY. 

